Training exercise

Sep 17, 2013

The Washington Fire Department burned the house at 1307 N. Second Ave. Monday evening as a training exercise and to clear the property for further expansion. City administrator Brent Hinson said that the former owner of the house had approached the city to take the house. He said the city had paid about $4,000 in closing fees for the house. While originally scheduled to be burned several times since spring, Hinson said the firefighters had to wait for the wind to be out of the east to provide safety. Fire chief Tom Wide also said part of the house was demolished before the fire was set, to minimize the possibility of catching neighboring properties on fire. He said the burn went off perfectly. About 28 firefighters trained on the use of hoses during the burn as they kept the fire from getting out of control. Hinson said the city’s maintenance department will haul off the remains once they stop smoldering, and the ground will be leveled and marketed.